Alex Jauregui (SSG., US Army) – Woodland, CA

Nature of Project: Swimming Pool

Local Project Lead- American Pools

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SSG Alex Jauregui lost both legs and hearing in both ears and sustained extensive injuries to his right hand and forearm when he stepped on an IED in Sangsar, Afghanistan on April 8, 2012. SSG Jauregui was on a routine morning patrol with the 2-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment when his squad detected an IED. While readying four of his Soldiers to escort Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) to the site, SSG Jauregui spotted a secondary wire leading to another IED. After photographing the site and approaching his platoon sergeant and EOD technician to share this new information, SSG stepped on and triggered a third IED.

After the initial blast, SSG Jauregui recalls his vision becoming blurry and his ears ringing while being dragged away by his buddy. The sights and sounds of the momentary chaos were unlike no other experience he had known throughout his 42 months of combat. His soldier instincts told him to sit up and assess his injuries, but those coming to his aid would push him down and tell him to stay put, reassuring him that he would be okay.

When he asked those around him how badly he was injured, a fellow soldier gave him the brutal truth that he would likely lose his legs. With no medic and no morphine to ease the pain of his
burning legs, he found comfort in the familiar voices of brothers coming to his immediate aid, all while urging him to stay conscious until MEDEVAC arrived. Although he could not keep his eyes open or blink to signal his alertness, SSG Jauregui responded with a thumbs up; moments later he was non communicative. The last thing SSG Jauregui remembers during his transport is hearing a crew member on the MEDEVAC team call to him, “Hang in there Bud, we are five minutes out.”

SSG Jauregui has a wonderful wife and three children. The rehabilitative benefits and increased quality of life and time spent with family would be priceless.

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